Page 15 of Wrath

“I was being polite.” I back out as he also rams the food in his mouth.

Zeus has his head resting on the table. He doesn’t bother to look up, so I place the tray beside him and leave, not wanting to disturb him.

As I get to Wrath’s room, I pause. Every time I see him, I feel something.Excitement, maybe?But that quickly leaves me as I open the door and find him sprawled out on the floor. He’s bruised and bleeding from his lip, and his eyes are closed. I glance back, wondering if I should get Alex, but he’s the one who told me I should use my own initiative rather than bother people.

I clear my throat, and he stirs slightly, groaning. “I have your breakfast,” I say gently.

He opens his eyes, and when he sees me, he frowns, trying to sit up. I rush over, not really thinking as I crouch beside him and link my arm in his to help. He freezes, staring wide-eyed at where we touch. I immediately release him, but before I can back off, he grabs my hand and yanks me closer.

I freeze, my heart hammering hard in my chest as he leans closer. I think about screaming, but there’s a piece of me that wants to know what he’ll do. I’m intrigued. The way he’s holding on to me isn’t aggressive, and he’s moving slowly, like he doesn’t want to scare me. I watch cautiously as he gets closer, and then he presses his nose into my hair, inhaling deeply.

Wrath

I can’t ignore the way my body reacts to her.Wynter.I shudder as her sweet scent fills my nostrils. I bring her hand closer to my face, inspecting her thin fingers and her perfectly rounded clean nails. I can feel her pulse fluttering fast beneath my thumb, and I wonder if she’s as intoxicated with me.

Her eyes find mine, and I stare hard into the green embers burning brightly. She takes my breath away. I try to focus, to steady myself, but her proximity, her presence, the warmth radiating from her skin—all of it is overwhelming. Her eyes search mine like she has a thousand questions, and then her tongue darts out, wetting her lower lip before she asks, “Are you okay?”

Her voice feels like warmth wrapping around me, and I open my mouth to speak.Yes.I just have to say that one word. Instead, I clam up. “I’ve brought your breakfast,” she adds, standing and holding out her hand for me to take. I frown as she reaches down to grab mine, tugging me. I don’t move an inch, and she laughs. The sound bounces around the room, and my heart skips another beat. “As if I can lift you,” she says, rolling her eyes. “At least help me to help you,” she adds with amusement, and I realise she’s helping me off the floor.

This time, when she pulls, I push up until I’m back on my feet. Now, I’m towering over her, staring down as she cranes herneck to look up. “You need to eat,” she says, pointing to the table where my tray is waiting.

I go to it, taking my seat and holding up my wrist for her to chain. She frowns, and I point to the cuff hanging on the wall. “Oh,” she whispers. “You want me to chain you?” She takes the metal cuff and carefully wraps it around my wrist, taking her time to examine the red marks already on my skin before she clicks it shut. I move my legs apart, making it easier for her to chain them too, which she crouches to do. A second later, the guard comes in looking panicked. I stuff a handful of chicken into my mouth before he can say what he’s about to.

“I’m sorry, Wynter, I . . .” He stops, staring at her as she stands straighter. “I remembered I hadn’t chained him,” he murmurs, his frown cutting deep into his forehead. He looks over to the spot where they left me in the early hours and then back to where my chains hold me as I continue to stuff my face with food. It’s been days since I was last fed. “How did . . . wait, how did you chain him?”

She smiles. “I just put the cuffs around his wrist and ankles.”

“And he let you?”

She nods, smiling wider. “Why?”

“Because he never does anything quietly.”

She turns her smile to me. “Maybe you just don’t ask nicely enough.” And she taps my hand before heading out the room. The guard gives me one last confused glare before following her.

CHAPTER SIX

WYNTER

“You’re the talk of the caves,” Martha says with a smirk as I peel potatoes. “They’re saying you must be some kind of warrior queen.” She laughs.

“I didn’t do anything,” I mutter. All I’ve had is hassle from the guards since the incident with Wrath two days ago.

Martha leaves, and Jaycee leans closer. “It’s kind of amazing,” she whispers.

“I’m not sure what I did that fascinates everyone.”

“The warriors are violent beasts. They serve the Lord, but they’re not tamed.”

I laugh. “Who told you that?”

“My father, may God rest his soul.”

I offer a sympathetic smile. “They’re just strong men kept in caves.” I’m tempted to tell her the truth—that they’re all stolen children from the outside world, trained to be fighters—but then I picture Jade and Abel, and I press my lips together in a tight line. My words get people killed.

“Martha said each warrior could produce up to thirty children before they’re moved on.”

“Moved on to where?” I ask.

---